Retired doctor mentors nursing students

William Powell starts program to team retired physicians, students

KIM HUGHES, Chronicle Correspondent

Published 5:30 am, Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Photo: Kim Christensen, For The Chronicle

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William Powell: "The nurses get to pick the brains of retired physicians, and we get to deal with young, eager minds who want to be there. I found many of them are people seeking a second career, so they truly want to be there." less

William Powell: "The nurses get to pick the brains of retired physicians, and we get to deal with young, eager minds who want to be there. I found many of them are people seeking a second career, so they truly ... more

Photo: Kim Christensen, For The Chronicle

Retired doctor mentors nursing students

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You can take this doctor out of the delivery room, but not out of the classroom.

"Retired physicians assist the nursing students in polishing their health assessments," Powell said. "In nursing, assessment means completing their evaluation of a patient when the patient comes into the office or the hospital."

Powell said things have changed a lot since he began his medical career more than 35 years ago, one of those being the role of nurses.

"When I started back in the '60s, all the nurse did was vital signs and 'gopher' work, getting things the doctor needed," said Powell, who estimates he has delivered more then 7,000 babies. "Today, the modern nurse does almost everything medical interns do. Interns are the year following medical school."

Powell said he, along with several other retired physicians from the Houston area, volunteered to work with 40 student nurses last spring.

In the fall, they will work with 130 students.

"It's been very popular," Powell said. "The nurses get to pick the brains of retired physicians, and we get to deal with young, eager minds who want to be there. I found many of them are people seeking a second career, so they truly want to be there."

Dr. Shelly Liss, president of the Retired Physicians Organization, said Powell is active in several RPO activities including the Nurse Education Project at UT.

"All of the retired physicians, including Powell, were received enthusiastically because of their extensive clinical experience, knowledge and desire to pass information on to these very bright and ambitious students," Liss said.

Powell said he takes great satisfaction in volunteering his time, because teaching is something he thoroughly enjoys.

"Since 1967 I have been an instructor, and presently assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor Medical College," Powell said. "Until 1997 when the curriculum changed, I taught third-and fourth-year medical students, which I enjoyed immensely. I missed all of that, until this opportunity to teach the nurses came along."

Powell said it took several months to put the mentoring program together, but it's been worth every minute.

"It's been a huge success," Powell said. "And we hope this concept will go national."

Powell, a father of four and grandfather of 10, has been married to his wife Helen Powell for 20 years.